THE future of Liverpool's Chavasse Park will be announced within a fortnight.

THE future of Liverpool's Chavasse Park will be announced within a fortnight.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott is expected to reject the Walton Group's #200m shopping and leisure project, after a three-month public inquiry.

This would clear the way for Liverpool council to approve Grosvenor Henderson's #700m project to redevelop the city centre.

The first report of the public inquiry, which considered the wider plans for the future of Liverpool, indicated that the government inspectors did not favour the type of closed development proposed by the Walton Group.

The council is set to debate amendments to its city centre blueprint based on that report next Wednesday.

But Walton has voiced protests against the council's latest plans, insisting that its vision for the city centre is more in keeping with the inspector's findings.

A spokesman said: "We believe that what we are proposing is the right scale for Liverpool and we hope the council listens with an open mind to the objections that have been raised, based on the inspector's findings."

Planning officials are recommending that the council rejects Walton's objections.

Walton bought an option to develop Chavasse Park from Liverpool council for #25,000 in 1996.

That option is set to expire on September 12 and, barring a major about-face by the government, council insiders are convinced it will mark the end of the road for Walton's ambit?ions for the site.

A council spokesman told the ECHO: "We are expecting a decision very shortly from the public inquiry.

"But, clearly, the deputy Prime Minister's decision will have a fund?amental effect on the future shape of the city centre.

"This will be absolutely crucial for Liverpool in the 21st century."

Bill Davies' Walton Group commissioned US architect Philip Johnson, 94, to design a futuristic complex with a sculpted glass canopy, shaped like a giant wave.

The #200m project would consist of two department stores, shop units, restaurants, leisure facilities, open space and a pedestrian footbridge across Strand Street to Albert Dock.

A high court ruling in July 2001 said the council must stick by an option it signed with the Walton Group despite preferring the #700m rival Grosvenor Henderson blueprint to regenerate the Paradise Street development area, which overlaps Chavasse Park.